Definition of Woke, why the controversy?

However, as directly as I can get.

The term “woke” as it is now used on the street, in common parlance, has evolved and has now come to be the commonly used term for intolerance and fixed attitudes.

I didn’t make it happen. I’m just reporting what I hear.

I don’t know how to be more direct than that.

First you got yourself in rather a fluster because I defended a words meaning and now we have moved to snide insults when you neither know me not my political leanings Lathyrus3. May I ask you why? It is not terribly deep for me, just passing some time here. I hope all is well your end.

Dictionaries aren't much help these days. They may give the original meaning but today's youngsters have given some of these words a whole new meaning.

I was informed the other day by my soon to be 13 GD that her friend was salty because someone told her she had a cake.

Translated it means her friend was annoyed because someone told her she had a big bottom.

It's another world.

Yes I’m fine thank you. I’m sorry if you thought my last remark was snide. You said I should try being direct so Iwas as direct as I could be about my experiences of the way people now use the term “woke”.

I don’t think I’ve mentioned politics in any way.

No flutters here, though I did find your remark about my not being direct quite funny. I’m usually accused of just the opposite.

In the urban dictionary there is definitely - and has been for a while - (you get dated entries) sense that "woke" os more often now an insult, carelessly used. (ie without knowledge of its origins).

A search on gransnet is educative.

Lathyrus3

Yes I’m fine thank you. I’m sorry if you thought my last remark was snide. You said I should try being direct so Iwas as direct as I could be about my experiences of the way people now use the term “woke”.

I don’t think I’ve mentioned politics in any way.

No flutters here, though I did find your remark about my not being direct quite funny. I’m usually accused of just the opposite.

Of course, no argument here, I think it would be fair to say, I have never used the word "woke" to describe myself or anyone else. I rather simply flat out refuse to take any insult from it. None at all.

Urban Dictionary definition of WOKE:

“When this term became popularised, initially the meaning of this term was when an individual became more aware of social injustice. Or basically, any current affairs related like biased, discrimination, or double-standards.

However, as time passed by, people started using this term recklessly, assigning this term to themselves or someone they know to boost their confidence and reassure them that they have the moral high grounds and are fighting for the better world. And sometimes even using it as a way to protect themselves from other people's opinion, by considering the 'outsider' as non-woke. While people that are in line with their belief as woke. Meaning that those 'outsiders' have been brainwash by the society and couldn't see the truth. Thus, filtering everything that the 'outsider' gives regardless whether it is rationale or not.

And as of now, the original meaning is slowly fading and instead, is used more often to term someone as hypocritical and think they are the 'enlightened' despite the fact that they are extremely close-minded and are unable to accept other people's criticism or different perspective. Especially considering the existence of echo chamber(media) that helped them to find other like-minded individuals, thus, further solidifying their 'progressive' opinion.
1st paragraph
"Damn bro, I didn't realize racism is such a major issue in our country! I'm a woke now!"

2nd paragraph
"I can't believe this. How are they so close-minded? Can't they see just how toxic our society is? The solution is so simple, yet they refused to change! I just don't understand!"

3rd paragraph
"Fatphobic?! Misogyny?! What's wrong with preferring a thin woman?! And she is morbidly obese for god sake! Why should I be attracted to her?! Why should I lower myself while she refuse to better herself?! These woke people are a bunch of ridiculous hypocrite!"

hollysteers

It has become an insult because some people become patronising “Jesus complex” humourless bores.
It has good origins in the black community in America.

👏👏👏

Sarnia

Dictionaries aren't much help these days. They may give the original meaning but today's youngsters have given some of these words a whole new meaning.

I was informed the other day by my soon to be 13 GD that her friend was salty because someone told her she had a cake.

Translated it means her friend was annoyed because someone told her she had a big bottom.

It's another world.

Isn’t it just!! I’m still getting used to .wicked being great and sick or sic also meaning good!

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Urban Dictionary definition of WOKE:

“When this term became popularised, initially the meaning of this term was when an individual became more aware of social injustice. Or basically, any current affairs related like biased, discrimination, or double-standards.

However, as time passed by, people started using this term recklessly, assigning this term to themselves or someone they know to boost their confidence and reassure them that they have the moral high grounds and are fighting for the better world. And sometimes even using it as a way to protect themselves from other people's opinion, by considering the 'outsider' as non-woke. While people that are in line with their belief as woke. Meaning that those 'outsiders' have been brainwash by the society and couldn't see the truth. Thus, filtering everything that the 'outsider' gives regardless whether it is rationale or not.

And as of now, the original meaning is slowly fading and instead, is used more often to term someone as hypocritical and think they are the 'enlightened' despite the fact that they are extremely close-minded and are unable to accept other people's criticism or different perspective. Especially considering the existence of echo chamber(media) that helped them to find other like-minded individuals, thus, further solidifying their 'progressive' opinion.
1st paragraph
"Damn bro, I didn't realize racism is such a major issue in our country! I'm a woke now!"

2nd paragraph
"I can't believe this. How are they so close-minded? Can't they see just how toxic our society is? The solution is so simple, yet they refused to change! I just don't understand!"

3rd paragraph
"Fatphobic?! Misogyny?! What's wrong with preferring a thin woman?! And she is morbidly obese for god sake! Why should I be attracted to her?! Why should I lower myself while she refuse to better herself?! These woke people are a bunch of ridiculous hypocrite!"

Yes FGT - that is one of the Urban Dictionary's definitions woke, of about 5, you've chosen the one that suits you,

ie someone who is hypocritical because they claim the high moral ground -

in fact, there are several pages of definitions, some with more thumbs up than the one you have given us above, not to mention the ones in the picture.....

(about 5 pages of definitions of woke)

Thanks Wyllow3.
Fwiw, I accept language changes but - it almost feels that the original meaning has been hijacked and distorted by folks who object to attempts to share equality between white powerful elite and ‘others’.

I see it as the definition given in the dictionary -" being 'aware' or 'well informed' in a political or cultural sense." Of course, now it is used to sneer and give offence, replacing the old "do-gooder" insult.

It seems to me that those who frequently throw the word "woke" around are often reluctant to engage in any sort of measured discussion. They are often reluctant to accept statistics and research findings, instead giving a knee-jerk, and often very negative, response on many issues. Thus, the NHS has "too many managers", prisons are "like holiday camps", the young are "lazy and entitled", etc, etc, etc.

And of course Eloethan "the country has gone to the dogs"

Yes - Eloethan and Wyllow3

”Rather easy to deal with, if someone says you are "woke" simply reply "thank you" with a smile”

This! 👏👏👏

I suppose it means thoughtful and considerate, something along those lines?

Iam64

Thanks Wyllow3.
Fwiw, I accept language changes but - it almost feels that the original meaning has been hijacked and distorted by folks who object to attempts to share equality between white powerful elite and ‘others’.

???

"woke" originated in the Deep South of America.

Very interesting to learn the original definition. It's not a word I would ever use except maybe in inverted commas but I always think of it as being an insult as in someone who latches on to every new idea without any real understanding.

knspol

Very interesting to learn the original definition. It's not a word I would ever use except maybe in inverted commas but I always think of it as being an insult as in someone who latches on to every new idea without any real understanding.

Oh! That’s a very interesting definition and not one I’ve heard before?

knspol

Very interesting to learn the original definition. It's not a word I would ever use except maybe in inverted commas but I always think of it as being an insult as in someone who latches on to every new idea without any real understanding.

That's interesting. I suppose it depends; if it is used as an intended slight or sneering insult to my mind that says more about the person who is using the term 'woke' as an insult. Conversely, although I could (in fact, have, on GN) been accused of being 'woke', I have never used the term to describe my own views on things.

Another one that really pees me off is ‘far right’ It used to mean those people who dress like Nazis and go round menacing people but now it means anyone Starmer doesn’t agree with. Appalling.

HousePlantQueen

As this word is often thrown about on GN as some sort of insult, I thought that perhaps the definition may be useful;

By the mid-20th century," says the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), "woke had been extended figuratively to refer to being 'aware' or 'well informed' in a political or cultural sense."26 Jun 2017

I cannot see why this is used as an insult!

Because the correct meaning has been hi-jacked by the far- right and extremists to refer to anything they don’t like. Normally nowadays it refers to anything or anybody who is ‘liberal’ in thinking and tolerant of things THEY think should be stamped on… like LGBTQ, DEI ( Trumps recent insistence that was the cause of the fatal plane crash a couple of days ago) …basically anything THEY disagree with. I am disgusted with the corruption of the word (and a lot more besides!)

hollysteers

It has become an insult because some people become patronising “Jesus complex” humourless bores.
It has good origins in the black community in America.

Well, I apologise for still remaining totally confused by the term "woke", despite everyone's dictionary definitions and direct speaking.

I am also confused by the term "Jesus complex"! Is this a positive description or an insult to some Christians?